Floods in New York -- 1968

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STATE OF NEW YORK
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION

FLOODS IN NEVw YORK - 1968

By

F. LUMAN ROBISON
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

FLOODS IN NEW YORK-1968

By

F. Luman Robison
u.S. Geological Survey

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
RI-9

Prepared by
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

in cooperation with
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and
NEW YORK STATE WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION

STATE OF NEW YORK
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION

1969

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction............................................ 1
Outstanding floods, southeastern New York, May 29, 30... 2
Summary of other floods................................. 4
Des c rip t ion s 0 f f 100 d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
January floods....................................... 13
February floods...................................... 16
March floods......................................... 16
April floods......................................... 18
May floods........................................... 18
June floods.......................................... 22
July floods.......................................... 26
August floods........................................ 27
S e p tern be r f 1 0 0 d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
October floods....................................... 28
November floods...................................... 29
December floods...................................... 29

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Map showing precipitation and storm
rainfall, May 28, 29, 1968, in
southeastern New york....... ..... ...... ..... 5

2. Stage hydrograph for Bronx River at
Bronxville, N. Y., May 28-30,1968.......... 6

3. Map of southeastern New York showing
location of sites where flood damage
from the storm of May 28, 29, 1968
was reported................................ 7

4. Map showing location of flood-
determination points for the flood
of May 29, 30, 1968, in southeastern
New york.................................... 8

- iii -

ILLUSTRATIONS (Continued)

Page

Figure 5. Profile of Ramapo River from Tuxedo
Park, N. Y. to the gaging station
near Mahwah, N. J., and of Mahwah
River from State Highway 59 at
Suffern, N. Y. to mouth, flood of
May 29,30,1968............................ 11

6. Map of New York State showing location
of sites where damage from floods
was reported in 1968, excepting
flood of May 29,30......................... 12

TABLE

Table 1. Flood stages and discharges in southeastern
New York, May 29, 30, 1968................... 9

- iv -

FLOODS IN NEW YORK-1968

By

F. Luman Robison 1/

INTRODUCTION

This report presents information on floods reported in New
York State during the calendar year 1968. It was prepared at
the request of the New York State Department of Transportation
in accordance with the provisions of an agreement between the
New York State Division of Water Resources and the U.S. Geolo-
gical Survey for a cooperative statewide program to investigate
the water resources of the State.

The report was compiled in the New York District, Water
Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, under the direction
of Gara1d G. Parker, former District Chief. The information
was obtained from newspaper clippings, from the U.S. Weather
Bureau publications "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena,
1968" and "Daily Precipitation Records," from records of the
U.S. Geological Survey, and from reports of the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers.

1/ Hydraulic Engineer, U.S. Geological Survey, Albany, N. Y.

- 1 -

OUTSTANDING FLOODS, SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK, MAY 29, 30

Floods were reported someplace in New York in every month
of 1968, but at most sites the resulting damage was not great.
The most serious flood event of the year occurred in the south-
eastern part of the State at the end of May.

Very heavy rains of 3.0 to 6.3 inches centered in the
extreme southeastern counties caused severe flooding of buildings,
streets, highways, crops, and low-lying areas in Ulster, Orange,
Westchester, Rockland, and Nassau Counties and the boroughs of
New York City. Thousands of acres of valuable truck-garden
crops were inundated in Orange County.

In most areas the heavy rain began about 10 p.m. on May 28
and ended before noon the next day. The maximum official
U.S. Weather Bureau measurement of 5.54 inches was recorded at
Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County. At Central Park in New York
City a reading of 4.88 inches broke a 60-year record for 24-hour
rainfall. At Suffern, Rockland County, and Greenwood Lake,
Orange County, unofficial measurements of 6.3Q inches and 6.07
inches, respectively, were reported. The extent and distribution
of rainfall is shown in figure 1. This figure also includes a
list of rainfall measurements at selected sites.

The intensity of the storm caused streams to rise rapidly.
Figure 2 shows the rise and recession of the Bronx River at
Bronxville, where the discharge recorded was the greatest since
the establishment of the gaging station in 1944. The discharge
of the Mamaroneck River at Mamaroneck was the second highest in
the 24-year record. The only long-term record in the Ramapo
River basin is near Mahwah, N. J., about a mile below the New
York-New Jersey State line. At this station, with 50 years of
record, the peak discharge on May 29 was exceeded only by the
floods of October 1903 and October 1955. On several small streams
in Rockland County, where gages were installed in 1959 and 1960,
the discharges from this storm exceeded any previously recorded.

Flood-frequency relationships are not well defined for the
area affected by this flood. Manmade influences due to urban-
ization affect the peak discharge for many streams. Gaging-
station records for small areas are generally of short duration
so frequency relations for these small areas are uncertain. On
the basis of the regional flood-frequency relationships, this
flood had a recurrence interval of about 25 years for the long-
term station on Ramapo River near Mahwah, N. J., with a
comparatively large drainage area of 118 square miles. A study
of the peaks listed in table 1 indicate that this flood was at
least a 25-year event for many of the small streams.

Figure 3 shows sites where flood damage from the storm of
May 28, 29 was reported. The sources of the damage reports are
included in the section "Descriptions of Floods."

- 2 -

The storm indirectly caused the death of a man from Blauvelt
when his motorcycle collided with a car while riding east in the
westbound lane of State Highway 59, the eastbound lane having
been closed by flooding.

Many streets and cellars were flooded in the villages of
Orange and Rockland Counties. Several families were forced to
leave their homes. The village of Suffern was nearly isolated
for a time when both east and west approaches of State Highway 59
were blocked by high water. No total estimate of the monetary
damage caused by the flood has been reported. However, an
indication of the amount of flood damage suffered was .the declar-
ation by the u.S. Small Business Administration that Orange and
Rockland Counties were disaster areas.

Table 1 contains peak discharges for many streams in the
flood area, with corresponding maximum peaks of record prior to
May 29 for comparison. Data for some of the May flood peaks were
obtained from records at u.S. Geological Survey gaging stations
while others are the results of indirect measurements of peak
discharge made after the flood by Survey engineers. Sites where
flood discharges were determined are shown in figure 4.

Figure 5 is a profile of the Ramapo River from Tuxedo Park,
N. Y. to the gaging station near Mahwah, N. J., and of the Mahwah
River from State Highway 59 at Suffern, N. Y. to the mouth for
the flood of May 29, 30, 1968.

- 3 -

SUMMARY OF OTHER FLOODS

Except for the floods in southeastern New York at the end
of May, reported flood damages in 1968 were only moderate.
During the first 3 months of the year, flooding from heavy
rains, melting snow, and ice jams was reported from many areas.
At Silver Creek and Sunset Bay, both in Chautauqua County, the
nearly annual flooding from ice jams forced the evacuation of
several families. At Sunset Bay the flood stage was determined
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to have a 10-year recurrence,
with a damage estimate of $60,000. For the rest of the year,
flooding of streets, highways, and cellars was reported at some-
place during each month. Although measured rainfall of over
4.0 inches was reported in April, June, July, and September from
individual storms, flooding was mostly local and the damages
small. Sites where damage from flooding was reported in 1968,
excepting the floods of May 29, 30, are shown in figure 6.

- 4 -

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Maximum discharge 1450 cfs
Drainage area 26.5 sq mi

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MAY 1968

Figure 2.--Stage hydro graph for Bronx River at Bronxvi11e, N. Y.,
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DESCRIPTIONS OF FLOODS

The news items used in the following descriptions of floods
were taken from the indicated publications with minor editing by'
the author.

January Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, January 30, 31

Thawing temperatures, melting snow and moderate amounts of
rain combined with ice jams to cause considerable stream flooding
in southwestern tier from Chautauqua to Steuben Counties.
Twenty-five families forced to evacuate near mouth of Cattaraugus
Creek. Ice jam broken by dynamite to ease serious flood threat
to village of Silver Creek . Ice jam and high water in Chemung
River at Campbell , Steuben County, flooded nearby streets and
basement of school. Moderate rains, snowmelt and frozen ground
caused scattered flooding of basements, yards and streets in
Niagara Falls , Lockport and Rochester areas.

BUFFALO COURIER EXPRESS, January 30

The village of Silver Creek in Chautauqua County got its
first taste of seasonal flooding Monday, the 29th, from a combi-
nation of rain, heavy thawing and runoff. Two streets and about
15 homes were hit by flood waters from Walnut and Silver Creeks
in the northwest section of the village. Some residents on
Lincoln and Montgomery Streets reported from two to five feet of
water in their cellars. Water reached a depth of about two feet
in the two streets at 8 p.m. Monday, then began to recede.

On Grand Island , Niagara County, volunteer firemen were
called out Monday night to pump out flooded basements of numerous
homes.

NORTH TONAWANDA NEWS, January 30

The January rain which began Saturday and continued through
early today, combined with melting ice and snow, caused minor
flooding in the area south of Buffalo. East Aurora appeared to
have been the hardest hit community. Main Street was closed to
traffic for a time early today and several side streets were
clogged with water. Cazenovia Creek overflowed its banks during
the night but the waters receded shortly before dawn. Minor
flooding was reported in Depew , Niagara Falls , Hamburg and
Cheektowaga . In the suburban towns of Pendleton , Wheatfield and
Amherst fields and some basements were flooded.

- 13 -

NIAGARA FALLS GAZETTE, January 30

Monday's steady rain and warm temperatures caused a rash of
minor flooding in various areas of Niagara County today. Many
fields in the area resembled miniature ponds and numerous home
owners were faced with the problem of removing water which had
accumulated on cellar floors.

DUNKIRK GRAPE BELT, January 31

The nearly annual occurrence has taken place. Cattaraugus
Creek at Sunset Bay overflowed and forced 25 families to flee
their homes. Streets in Sunset Bay were covered with from 8 to
10 inches of water which flooded some cellars. Most of the
25 families who fled their homes left before the flood waters
became high enough to necessitate evacuation by boat.

DUNKIRK OBSERVER, January 31

The immediate danger is over, the flood waters have receded
and all but one of the 25 families forced from their homes in
Sunset Bay Tuesday have returned. Evacuation may again become
necessary if blasting fails to remove the ice jam in Cattaraugus
Creek which extends from the mouth upstream to Versailles.

ROCHESTER DEM CHRONICLE, January 31

The four-day spring-like thaw caused flooding in suburban
streets and cellars throughout Monroe County yesterday. Blocked
or overloaded storm sewers were responsible for most of the
flooding of cellars and basement apartments.

EAST AURORA ADVERTISER, February 1

The January thaw brought the inevitable flooding of Tannery
Brook in East Aurora Monday evening. Water backed up by ice
jams at various bridges caused minor flooding of streets and
cellars.

DUNKIRK OBSERVER, February 2

The danger of further flooding at Sunset Bay has passed with
high winds helping to break up the massive ice jam in Cattaraugus
Creek. Thick gooey mud still covers streets, sidewalks, and
lawns near the creek's shore where the water was deepest.

- 14 -

MT MORRIS ENTERPRISE, February 7

An ice jam at Jones Bridge on the Genesee River last
Wednesday led to a virtual closing of all but one gate in the
Mt. Morris flood control dam here. It was feared that a breakup
of the jam might cause downstream flooding. At 8 a.m. Wednesday
the water level at the dam had risen to 45 feet from an empty
pool on Monday.

REPORT OF FLOODS, 29-30 January, 1968, WESTERN NEW YORK AND
NORTHERN OHIO IN THE BUFFALO DISTRICT, July 1968, U.S.. ARMY
ENGINEER DISTRICT, BUFFALO

Cattaraugus Creek, swollen by snow melt and steady rains
began bringing large ice floes downstream on the morning of
30 January. Conditions became worse when the reported strong
current of 6 to 7 miles per hour began breaking up ice jams that
had formed at several upstream bridges. As the large chunks of
ice flowed downstream towards the mouth at Lake Erie, they
became lodged on a sand bar causing a severe ice jam. Ice was
reported to have been backed up from the sand bar to Versailles
about three miles upstream. The water was flowing underneath
the ice through the upstream reaches but not at the mouth.

Streets in Sunset Bay were covered with between 8 to 10
inches of water. A total of 25 families were forced to flee
their homes. It was reported that fourteen families had to be
rescued from their homes by boat. Shelter and meals were
furnished at the Irving Community House on Route 5 by the
Chautauqua County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Damages determined by Buffalo District personnel were found
to be the result of flooding of cellars in those homes having
basements, and first floor flooding of cottages and commercial
establishments. Damage to boats and marine equipment was much
less than during the September 1967 flood because during the
1967 flood most of the boats in the area were still in the water
and were simply torn free or wrecked. Many of the roads in the
affected area were flooded and required repair. The total
damages were estimated from an existing stage-damage curve in the
Interim Report on Cattaraugus Creek Harbor, New York, December
1964. The estimated damage was $60,000 based on April 1968 cost
index.

Flood stage at Sunset Bay as determined by the Corps of
Engineers indicates the flood has a 10-year recurrence interval.

- 15 -

February Floods

SYRACUSE HERALD AMERICAN, February 4

Fire department, power, and telephone company personnel were
busy yesterday cleaning up water that flooded several streets and
a bowling alley after a beaver dam broke in Baldwinsville's
Tannery Creek. The creek was plugged up at West Genesee Street
and flooded streets with up to four feet of water. Parts of
Elizabeth, Warner, and Oneida Avenues were flooded as well as the
parking lot and bowling lanes of the Sports Bowl. More than
50 cars were flooded above the engines. Many cars required
towing.

COBLESKILL TIMES JOURNAL, February 7

Ice jams in Schoharie Creek caused lowland residents to eye
the swollen streams warily this past weekend as mild temperatures
caused ice to break up in the creek. The Little League ball park
in Central Bridge was flooded under a foot of water, ice, and
debris late Friday night.

March Floods

LONG ISLAND DAILY PRESS, March 13

Flooding from heavy rains this morning caused one of the
worst traffic jams the Long Island Expressway has ever experienced.
Manhattan-bound traffic was backed up 9 1/2 miles from the Maurice
Avenue exit in Maspeth to the Nassau County line. The westbound
lanes were flooded by water about two-feet deep. The Belt Parkway
was closed to east and west-bound traffic this morning due to
flooding in Ozone Park . The Weather Bureau said 1.61 inches of
rain fell between 9:07 a.m. yesterday and 8 o'clock this morning.

SCHENECTADY GAZETTE, March 18

A small stream jammed with ice flooded a few streets and
yards in Johnstown . In Gloversville one street was slightly
flooded by a small stream.

ALBANY TIMES UNION, March 19

Rainfall of 0.88 of an inch in the past two days caused the
closing of the Alplaus Road in the Town of Glenville.

- 16 -

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, March 19

From many sections of Staten Island flooding of streets,
yards, and basements was reported following the more than
1 1/2 inches of rain on the 17th and 18th.

WALDEN CITIZEN HERALD, March 20

Overflowing of the Wallkill River and tributaries with
flooding of fields and roads caused by the heaviest rainfall of
the year to date in the area, was reported at Montgomery .

STAMFORD MIRROR RECORDER, March 20

Rain started falling Saturday night, continued through
Sunday and Monday night resulting in a fall of over two inches.
The runoff because of heavy, deep frost in the ground, swelled
streams and resulted in mild flooding in lowlands along the
Schoharie Creek. The road between Prattsville and Gilboa was
covered by ice cakes at one point.

CANAJOHARIE COURIER STANDARD, March 21

Melting snow and steady rain over the past weekend,
continuing up to late Monday night, resulted in many outlying
creeks flooding adjoining fields and roads, some highways being
closed to traffic. The more than two inches of rain also flooded
some cellars. At several spots in the Town of Canajoharie , water
from Canajoharie C
eek and other smaller streams flooded some
roads at various times.

NEWBURGH-BEACON NEWS, March 23

In the village and town of Fishkil1 several cellars were
reported to be flooded.

KINGSTON FREEMAN, March 25

After a weekend of rain, snow and high winds streams in many
Ulster County areas were running full. In some lowlands especially
along Esopus Creek minor flooding was reported.

CANASTOTA BEE JOURNAL, March 28

,/
Heavy rains over the past weekend caused flooding of some
streets and cellars in Canastota.

- 17 -

April Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, April 24

Heavy rains of 2.0 to over 3.5 inches fell east of a line
running from Western Catskills to Lake Champlain with nearly
2.0 inches in the greater New York City area. Heaviest totals
of 3.9 inches at Catskill, Greene County and 4.1 inches at Slide
Mountain, Ulster County. Local flooding of many highways and
some lowlands along tributary streams in the mid-Hudson River
Valley. Highways temporarily closed in northern Catskills from
landslides loosened by rain. Storm, one of heaviest April rains
in eastern valleys in many years, was beneficial in terminating
long dry spell and extreme fire hazard in grass and woodlands.

PORT CHESTER ITEM, April 25

A deluge of nearly 3.0 inches of rain in Westchester County
in 24 hours, April 24-25, caused minor flooding on the parkways
last night.

NEW YORK TIMES, April 25

More than two inches of rain fell in the metropolitan area
yesterday. Parkways in southern Westchester and parts of Queens
were flooded and traffic was slowed elsewhere.

May Floods

OLEAN TIMES HERALD, May 16

A flash flood Wednesday night washed out a section of State
Route 275, the East Notch Road from Friendship southerly to
Richburg .

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, May 28, 29

Very heavy rains of 3.0 to 5.5 inches centered in extreme
southeastern sections as moderate to heavy rains were general
over the remainder of the State. Heaviest official storm total
5.54 inches at Dobbs Ferry , Westchester County. A 24-hour total
of 4.88 inches at Central Park, New York City, broke a 60-year
record for May established in 1908. Severe flooding of cities,
villages, highways, crops and all low-lying areas was wide spread
in Ulster , Orange , Westchester , Rockland , and Nassau Counties as
well as in the boroughs of New York City . Home basements, stores,
bridges and small dams sustained damage. Thousands of acres of
valuable truck crops inundated in Orange County with heavy loss
of onions, lettuce, potatoes and other crops. Several express-
ways in New York City temporarily closed by deep water accumula-
tions. Wallkill River above flood stage in Orange and Ulster

- 18 -

County for several hours as were Scho
arie Creek and small
streams in the Catskills. Streamflow in five-county area
heaviest since the hurricane-caused floods of October 1955.

THE WHITE PLAINS REPORTER DISPATCH, May 29

Heavy rains last night and early this morning caused
flooding and the uprooting of trees in several areas of White
Plains . A few streets and basements were flooded. Traffic on
the Bronx River Parkway had to be rerouted because of floods
under bridges.

THE WHITE PLAINS REPORTER DISPATCH, May 31

The two-day rainfall of 5.54 inches recorded at the U.S.
Weather Bureau gage at Dobbs Ferry left Westchester County
residents with a soggy Memorial Day holiday. Portions of most
major highways in the county were flooded. Portions of the
Hutchinson River and Bronx River Parkways were closed for a few
hours.

THE NYACK JOURNAL NEWS, May 31

Rockland County was still hung out to dry this morning
after a record 6.3 inch rainfall, the worst storm in 60 years.
The storm indirectly caused at least one death, drove scores of
families from their homes and closed down many of the county's
main traffic arteries before the waters began to recede today.
Normally picturesque water courses such as Pascack, Sparkill and
Minisceongo Creeks and Nauraushaun Brook overflowed their banks
and spread silt, sand, and muddy water over roads and lawns.
Sparkill Creek in Orangeburg submerged the new county sewer
plant now under construction on Route 340. Construction on
Route 304 caused flooding in Pearl River . The work there has
interrupted the normal flow of water through the Dexter Co.
property causing the water to run into the street. Flooding on
Route 59 was indirectly the cause of the death of a 48-year old
motorcyclist from Blauvelt . He was killed early Thursday morning
when he collided with a car while riding east in a westbound lane.
The eastbound lanes were closed by flooding. The village of
Suffern was virtually cut by high water on both the east and west
approaches of Route 59. Two feet of water on Route 202 and wash-
outs near the Thruway overpass left Orange Avenue as the only
major entrance road of the village unaffected by the deluge. The
Spring Valley area was hit hard with severe flooding along Pascack
Creek near Union Road and Memorial Park. The basement apartments
in the Survey Building were flooded, forcing the evacuation of
six families to the village hall. Memorial Park was closed to all
traffic. Many streets were flooded, some cellars had water
flowing through them. In Haverstraw , the Village-on-the-Green
suffered heavily as water poured into cellars.

- 19 -

!
'"
,!i:
i'

4".

THE ROCKLAND COUNTY RECORD, May 31

Many Rockland County home owners spent yesterday with mops,
pumps, and borrowed equipment removing water from basements that
varied from a few inches in depth in Stony Point to almost three
feet in flooded Suffern basements. The athletic field in Suffern
was covered with about three feet of water yesterday. Fast water
in Minisceongo Creek eroded an earthen bank at Willow Grove in
Haverstraw and almost plunged a house trailer into the creek.
One of the hardest hit flood areas was Squires Gate development
in Suffern where dozens of two-family homes were flooded by
spillover from Mahwah River.

THE MIDDLETOWN TIMES HERALD RECORD, May 31

Rampaging rivers jumped their banks, bridges washed away,
and roads covered with up to four feet of water as an unexpected
storm pelted the area. Thousands of basements were flooded,
muckland crops threatened, and roads throughout the area buckled
and caved in. The downpour that often reached torrential pro-
portions began about 10 p.m. Tuesday in most areas and dropped
to a drizzle about 14 hours later. In some places it was the
heaviest rainfall since 1903 and produced flooding comparable to
that of 1955. The estimate of damage to Monroe town roads was
$20,000. Three roads were closed and on others traffic was
interrupted temporarily.

An unusual accident involved a l3-year boy of Monroe . He
and three companions were exploring a large pool of water behind
Goose Pond Inn parking lot when he disappeared. Apparently he
had fallen into a gorge and was sucked into a culvert and carried
through 300 feet of underground pipe to Monroe Lake. The
pressure was so great that when he reached the lake he was shot
into the air. His injuries consisted only of a cut on the back
of his head and leg and back bruises. After treatment at the
hospital in Goshen he was released.

The overflowing pond at center of Lakeside Trailer Park in
Highland Mills forced several trailer owners to seek higher
ground.

Flood waters from the Wal1ki11 River washed out a section
of the Pulaski Highway and flooded the fertile black farmland
near Pine Island , placing about a quarter of this year's crops
under a foot of water.

In Ulster County the Shawungunk Kill caused extensive
flooding of fields and some roads. About 200 yards of U1ster-
vi1le Road near Pine Bush was inundated.

- 20 -

NEWBURGH-BEACON NEWS, May 31

Walsh Road Bridge on the Newburgh-New Windsor line remained
closed today following two days of flooding. Part of the
Newburgh Housing Authority's Walsh Road public housing site was
under water. Several roads in the town of Newburgh were reported
to be flooded. The front entrance of a plant in Mountainville
was under water. One home owner in Walden reported a pond on her
front lawn more than four feet deep at one point. Route 207 was
reported blocked this morning by overflowing water from Washing-
ton Lake, the city's main reservoir. Serious cellar flooding was
reported in Goshen . In Central Valley a small creek over ran its
banks flooding some yards. In Monroe several residences sustained
flood damage.

NEWBURGH-BEACON NEWS, June 3

Black dirt farms in the Chester area suffered considerable
flooding of lettuce and onion crops from last week's storm. The
monetary loss cannot be accurately assessed until the water has
all drained off. The flooding was blamed on the water from
Cromline Creek and drainage from the upland areas.

NEWBURGH-BEACON NEWS, June 4

One resident of the Town of Newburgh reported that parts of
his farm were under four feet of water.

WARWICK DISPATCH, June 5

The heavy rain that fell last Wednesday and Thursday caused
flooding of roads, fields and cellars of homes in many parts of
the Town of Warwick. One of the hardest hit residential areas
was Wickham Village where sections of roadway were washed out and
water rose to several feet in depth in cellars. Farmers in muck-
land areas and other sections of the town found fields and crops
completely submerged.

SUFFERN INDEPENDENT, June 5

Mahwah River, a normally docile stream, last week turned
into a rampaging river causing extensive property damage in Rock-
land County. In Suffern, the most serious flooding occurred in
Squire's Gate Park where half the houses were flooded. Backyards
were flooded when the river rose more than seven feet.

HAVERSTRAW TIMES, June 5

In the flood of May 29 Cedar Pond Brook flooded parklands
and streets in Stony Point .

- 21 -

SPRING VALLEY LEADER, June 12

Orange and Rockland Counties were declared disaster areas by
the u.S. Small Business Administration. This designation enabled
residents who suffered damages to their homes or businesses in
the May 29, 30 flood to borrow money at 3 percent to cover actual
losses.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, May 30

Torrential rain occurred between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Bath-
Thurston-Cameron area of Central Steuben County. Rainfall
totaling 2.0 to 3.0 inches resulted in flash flooding along
streets and highways especially in southwestern outskirts of the
city of Bath . Large trailer home was moved off foundation and
automobile was carried away by flood waters. Many lawns and
other low lying areas were covered by mud and debris and some
basements were flooded.

June Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, June 10

Heavy downpours affected central sections of southern
tier from Chemung to Delaware County during afternoon hours.
Most serious was rapid flash flooding of creeks in and near the
villages of Sidney Center , Northfield , and Franklin in Delaware
County, caused by a cloudburst about 3:15 p.m. Several families
marooned. Numerous basements flooded, streets and roads inundated
or washed out, many acres of hay, corn, and grain crops heavily
damaged around these villages. College library flooded at
Binghamton causing considerable damage to books, etc. Heavy
rains in southern outskirts and suburbs of Elmira resulted in
widespread flooding as winds downed trees, limbs, and power
lines. Section of highway washed out near Waverly , Tioga County.

ALBANY KNICKERBOCKER NEWS, June 10

Heavy local rain in Albany this morning forced the closing
of three streets.

BINGHAMTON PRESS, June 11

The heaviest rainfall of the year took about an hour and a
half yesterday to wash out roads, flood cellars, and cause
general flood damage in the eastern and northern parts of Broome
County. Binghamton's First Ward and its West Side, along with
northern Johnson City and the Town of Maine appeared to get the
worst of it. Glenwood Avenue, Lake Avenue, Clinton Street and
the Prospect Street area in Binghamton were flooded with water

- 22 -

backing up into cellars and covering the streets. Several roads
in the north part of the Town of Union were reported flooded.
Little Choconut Creek which has caused heavy flooding in Johnson
City did not go over its banks.

ONEONTA STAR, June 11

A flash flood in the Sidney Center area yesterday afternoon
forced residents from their homes and resulted in considerable
damage especially along Baker and Depot Streets. The heavy rain
lasted only about an hour, but came with such force that Carrs
Creek overflowed into area homes. Walton firemen were called out
about 4:45 p.m. when a woman in Northfield found her home
surrounded by flood water which was pouring into her basement.
Warnings were issued throughout the area that the road to Sidney
Center via Trout Creek was closed by the rising water. A number
of families and animals had to be rescued by firemen from the
approaching flood.

WALTON REPORTER, June 13

Sidney Center was re-visited by its seven-year plague on
Monday, the 10th and shared its troubles brought by turbulent
waters, with the Northfield area. In 1954, 1961 and now in 1968
floods have struck Sidney Center . A 1,000-foot section of the
county highway between these two villages was ripped out by the
flood, to a depth of eight feet in some places. Several resi-
dents of Northfie1d were rescued by firemen.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, June 11, 12

Second heavy rain in two days in Elmira area with extensive
flooding of streets, low lying areas, and basements.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, June 25

Thunderstorm activity in southern Westchester County today
brought torrential rains causing flooding in low lying areas.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, June 25-28

Moderate to heavy precipitation occurred almost daily over
the State with heaviest amounts in southern two-thirds. Storm
totals 3.3 to over 4.5 inches from Buffalo area across Finger
Lakes to Central Mohawk Valley, with nearly 5.5 inches in Oneida
and Madison Counties; remainder of southern two-thirds of State
received mostly 2.0 to 3.5 inches except 4.0 inches lower Hudson
Valley. Immense areas of State inundated due to saturated soils
or runoff into low lying areas; major creeks and rivers remained

- 23 -

generally within banks. Flooded areas included cropland, city
streets, parks, backyards, countless basements, and highways.
Crop losses included over 5,000 acres of lettuce and onion crops
in Orange County muckland, where loss estimated in excess of
$1 million; harvest of ripe strawberry crops hindered by pro-
longed rains and wet land and quality of sweet cherry crop greatly
reduced by fruit cracking, all in Western New York; countless
acres of hay and grain flattened by rains and associated strong
winds in western and central counties. High water forced closing
of about 85 miles of Barge Canal between Oneida Lake and
Amsterdam . Excavation and construction of water pollution central
plant at Hornell, Steuben County, sustained $100,000 damage from
flooding.

BATAVIA NEWS, June 26

Genesee County was deluged by 2 1/2 inches of rain yester-
day and today. It was one of the heaviest 24-hour rainfalls in
area weather annals. Some city streets and lowlands south of
Batavia were flooded.

The down pour flooded streets in the Village of Perry and
washed soil from road shoulders throughout the county.

BUFFALO EVENING NEWS, June 26

The heavy two-day rain ending this morning flooded dozens
of streets and hundreds of basements in Western New York.

HORNELL TRIBUNE, June 26

Hornell's new water pollution control plant now under con-
struction has suffered an estimated $100,000 in damage as a
result of torrential rains which pelted the area last night and
early today.

SYRACUSE HERALD JOURNAL, June 26

Nearly 2.5 inches of rain had fallen on Central New York
by early today flooding hundreds of cellars putting many roads
under water. At least 250 homes in the Claramont Park tract in
Syracuse were surrounded by three to four feet of water. West
Genesee Street and Erie Boulevard, east, were under water in
many spots. Young Road in Mattydale was also flooded.

CANASTOTA BEE JOURNAL, June 27

Many village streets, residential cellar floors, and farm
acreages were under water at Canastota yesterday as the severest

- 24 -

rain storm of the year struck the central New York area. From
8 a.m. Tuesday morning to 12 noon on Wednesday a total of
3.54 inches of rain was recorded by the official weather observer
for the Oswego basin.

BUFFALO COURIER EXPRESS, June 27

Motorists in Buffalo had their problems early yesterday
when part of Delaware Avenue was impassible for a few hours.
In the Towns of Tonawanda , Amherst , Cheektowaga , and the village
of Kenmore , many cellars were flooded.

ONEIDA DISPATCH, June 27

The downpour today caused increasing damage to both muck-
land and upland crops and filled several new building basements
at Oneida.

SYRACUSE HERALD JOURNAL, June 28

More than four days of almost continually falling rain have
dumped more than four inches on the Upper Mohawk Valley and have
resulted in the closing of the Barge Canal between Sylvan Beach
and Amsterdam. Some sections of the Mohawk River have overflowed
their banks and Rome has had flooding inside the city along Wood
Creek. At Oriskany- the Mohawk River overflowed River Road near
the bridge.

ALBANY TIMES UNION, July 2

Port Henry on the shore of Lake Champlain apparently was
the community hit hardest by the violent shower Sunday afternoon.
Water ran 6 to 8 inches deep in the streets for about 20 minutes.
The village beach was washed out.

At the Cumberland Bay Campsite at Plattsburgh about 3,000
holidaying Canadians had their tents flooded out.

ALBANY KNICKERBOCKER NEWS, July 2

Early Sunday night six acres of hillside slid into the
50-foot wide Normanskill Creek, flooding fields in Slingerlands .

A
/

- 25 -

July Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, July 9

In connection with thunderstorm activity a gust of wind
collapsed a 300-foot circus tent at Auburn , Cayuga County, during
evening performance. Some 88 persons treated at hospitals with
varying injuries, many others treated at scene for injuries and
shock. Heavy rain hampered rescue efforts. Tent and property
loss estimated at $42,000.

AUBURN CITIZEN ADVERTISER, July 10

The Auburn Mayor last night ordered all non-essential
traffic off the streets during the violent electrical and rain
storm. Streets were flooded throughout the city with power
lines and tree limbs littering the streets.

THE ALBANY KNICKERBOCKER NEWS, July 10

A circus tent collapsed Tuesday night during a violent
thunderstorm injuring 85 of an estimated 300 spectators.

CAMILLUS ADVOCATE, July 12

Overflowing Nine Mile Creek and a small connecting creek
caused minor flooding of yards and streets in Camillus , July 9.

SCHENECTADY GAZETTE, July 9

A violent electrical storm accompanied by strong winds hit
the Schenectady area and caused heavy flooding in many sections.
The underpasses at Edison Ave., Weaver Street, and North Jay
Street had at least three feet covering the pavement blocking
through traffic for hours. The heaviest flooding was reported
along Guilderland Avenue, Parkwood Boulevard, and Sunrise
Boulevard in Rotterdam . Although many of Scotia's streets
were flooded during last night's storm only Mohawk Avenue was
partially blocked off.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, July 24

Very heavy cloudburst yielded nearly 2.0 inches of rain
within 30 minutes today in Borough of Richmond on Staten Island .
Total precipitation for storm 3.5 to 4.0 inches with unofficial
measurement of 4.55 inches. Amounts decreased to about 2.0
inches in Manhattan , Brooklyn , and Queens . Extensive flooding
of major highways, streets, basements and all low lying areas
occurred.

- 26 -

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE, July 25

Flood conditions, massive traffic tieups, electrical power
and telephone failures, the effects of yesterday's sudden rain-
storm on Staten Island were still being felt today. Curb to
curb flooding was reported in nearly every community yesterday,
causing traffic jams as much as a mile in length on some of the
Island's main roads. Nearly 5,100 telephones on the Island were
knocked out by the storm. Many yards and cellars were flooded.

SYRACUSE HERALD JOURNAL, August 2

Jordan officials were seeking the aid of the Army Corps of
Engineers to clean up silt, rocks and debris strewn about
Skaneateles Creek by flood waters July 9. During this storm a
large amount of water was released from Skaneateles Lake. This
water filled the stream to the top of its banks in the village
and left boulders, tree limbs and a large amount of gravel and
silt when it receded.

August Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, August 7

Afternoon thunderstorms in Buffalo area caused widespread
power failures and flooding in city and suburbs.

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, August 9

Winds gusting to 50 mph and heavy rains downed trees and
flooded wide areas in southern half of Albany County. Main
streets blocked in sections of City of Albany .

Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rains occurred from
Chautauqua County northeastward to Monroe and Ontario Counties.
Widespread flooding in Dunkirk - Fredonia areas resulted from
24-hour rains of 2.6 inches. Some small streams draining into
Lake Erie overflowed and flooded nearby fields and pastures.
Total of 2.39 inches at Rochester , heaviest 24-hour amount for
month of August since 1938 and heaviest for any month in that
city since September 1959. Extensive flooding resulted, closing
city expressway and many streets.

JAMESTOWN POST JOURNAL, August 24

Heavy rains hit northern Chautauqua County in the Dunkirk -
Fredonia area early this morning flooding highways and knocking
out power in some sections. Street flooding was reported in
Silver Creek and the Sunset Bay area.

- 27 -

September Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, September 11

Severe flooding resulted from thunderstorm rains totaling
4.0 inches or more in Niagara and western Orleans Counties .
Niagara University campus flooded by up to 4.0 feet of water
with damage reported to basements and ground floors; school
forced to close. Schools closed at Medina , Orleans County for
two days due to weakened bridges along school bus routes.
Extensive flooding of streets and low lying areas as well as
creeks overflowed in Tonawanda , Lewiston , and Lockport areas.
Heavy downpours also spread into northern Erie County and east-
ward to Wayne County with totals of 2.0 to 3.0 inches of rain.
Thunderstorms which began on the 10th yielded totals in excess
of 3.0 inches east of Lake Ontario, in the Binghamton area and
to Nassau County, Long Island.

BUFFALO EVENING NEWS, September 11

A heavy thunderstorm swept across northern Erie and Niagara
Counties this morning, flooding some cellars, streets, and under-
passes, and causing Niagara University to cancel its daytime
classes. Street, underpass, and cellar flooding was reported in
Niagara Falls , Kenmore , and Towns of Tonawanda , Amherst and
Cheektowaga .

NORTH TONAWANDA NEWS, September 12

Scores of basements throughout the city of Tonawanda were
flooded by yesterday's storm with as much as two feet of water.
Some minor flooding was reported in Kenmore.

NORTH TONAWANDA NEWS, September 17

Residents in the Towns of Pendleton and Wheatfield which
lie within the Bull Creek tributary of the Tonawanda Creek flood
basin, watched their gardens literally float away during last
week's downpour. Creeks and ditches overflowed their banks and
hundreds of acres of farmland, and numerous homes were more than
knee-deep in flood waters.

October Floods

USWB STORM DATA AND UNUSUAL WEATHER PHENOMENA, October 3

Late afternoon electrical storm resulted in some damage from
lightning strikes as well as local flooding in western third of
the State. City streets temporarily closed by flood waters in
Buffalo , Rochester , and neighboring cities.

- 28 -

OLEAN TIMES HERALD, October 19

High water on Martin Road at Great Valley caused extensive
damage to a bridge over Great Valley Creek early today.

November Floods

BINGHAMTON PRESS, November 8

A street and a small colony of new industrial buildings
were flooded in Johnson City last night by water from Finch
Hollow Creek.

NEW YORK TIMES, November 13

A double-barreled storm raged across the metropolitan area
yesterday on winds of gale force lashing New York, New Jersey,
and Connecticut with rain, sleet, and snow. Serious flooding
occurred in the coastal areas of New Jersey and Long Island.
There were massive commuter delays on subways, railroads and
highways. Streets and basements were flooded and beaches were
eroded. The winds were so powerful that they made the Bronx-
Whitestone bridge sway so badly that motorists abandoned their
cars on the bridge and ran back to shore. Other bridges were
closed to trucks and trailers.

UTICA OBSERVER DISPATCH, November 19

Oriskany Road at Marcy was under water today and creeks in
Oneida and Herkimer counties were near flood stage after three
days and nights of rainfall.

December Floods

NEW YORK NEWS, December 5

The nearly two inches of rain that fell on New York City
yesterday flooded streets and highways. The Borough of Queens
was especially hard hit.

ROCHESTER TIMES UNION, December 28

Many underpasses were flooded in Rochester today.

NIAGARA FALLS GAZETTE, December 29

Flooding was reported on the south side of Syracuse
yesterday with several main highways closed.

- 29 -

BUFFALO COURIER EXPRESS, December 29

Ice plugged sewers in the south Buffalo area flooded base-
ments and viaducts and the overflowing Cazenovia Creek stranded
some homeowners in West Seneca today. Flood water also closed
about a dozen roads in Chautauqua County. At Dunkirk one street
was closed by a flooded underpass.

POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL, December 29

A freak thunderstorm that hit Dutchess County about 6:30 p.m.
Saturday dumped over a quarter inch of rain in less than one-
half hour, brought traffic to a crawl, and flooded a few streets.

JAMESTOWN POST JOURNAL, December 30

A fierce thunderstorm struck the Jamestown area Saturday
with 1.25 inches of rain flooding several county and state roads.

- 30 -